Circular-knitting machine.



No. 824,759. PATENTED JULY 3, 1906.

H. I. THRALLQ CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED 13110.12,1904.

3 SHEETSSHEET 1.

WIHVESSES: 7 INVENTOR WML a? PATENTED JULY'S, 1906. H. ,I. THRALL. I

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED 13110.12, 1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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WITNESSES: JNVENTOR 1 I l 30 1117 1 @14 flu. 611571112X PATENTED JULY 3,1906.

H. -I. THRALL. CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEG.12, 1904.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WITNESSES:

UNITED ST TE PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY 1. THRALnoF LITTLE FALLS, NEWYoRK, ASSIGNOR-TO HOMER P. SNYDERMANUFACTURING COMPANY, or LITTLE FALLS, EW YORK.

CIRCULAR-KNITTING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 3,] 906,

Application filed December 12,1904- Serial No. 286,545-

citizen of the United States, residing at Little Falls, in the county ofHerkimer and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Circular- Knitting Machines; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact descri tion of the invention,such as will enable 0t ers skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same. 1

My invention relates to 'circular-rib-knittin machines, and particularlyto the dial an dial-cam cap; and it consists in a new construction andarrangement of cams, a new means of automatically controlling themovable cams, a new means for adjusting the dial and dial-cap, and indetails of construction and arrangement.

The more important features of my invention are the construction ofdial-ca with a central cap-hub, a series of segmenta sections securedthereto and carryin on their lower surface the cams of which t e main orprojecting cams form a continuous ring of steel,

sothat the needle-butts come in contact only with the hard steel,correspondin series of steel cast-off or retracting cams an of guardcamsarranged one of each on each section, and a pivoted tucking-cam arrangedin a cutout in the projecting-cam and adapted to adjust t e needles inplain-knitting or in the tuck position. A compound lever of peculiarconstruction is arranged on one of the yoke-stu'ds, supported on themain gear-ring automatically to operate these movable cams and throwthem from plain to tuck position, and vice versa. The primary lever ofsaid compound lever isconnected by a sin le connecting-rod to thecam-shiftingring, tted to an annular groove in the cap, and said ring isconnected toeach tucking-cam by a strap.

The dial and cam-ca carried on the yoke by the shaft are levele andcentered in the yoke-ring by an adjusting-hub fitting loosely in thering and provided with a series of.

clamping-screws for fixing it in adjusted position. The ring is providedwith a series of screws on its lower surface, engaging with thehub-flange to level the parts, and with a series of circumferentialscrews, engaging with the hub-periphery to center the parts.

' Inthe drawings is represented a desirable embodiment of my invention,in which the reference characters of the specification indiures.

Figure I is an elevation of a machine made according to my invention.Fig. II is a top plan. Fig. III is an enlarged vertical section of aportion of the preceding to show the means for adjusting the hub. Fig.IV is an elevation of the head of the machine and adjacent parts, takenat a right angle to Fi I. Fig. V is a horizontal section on line-Vv Fig.IV. Fig. VI is an inverted plan of a portion of the dial-cam plate.Figs. VII, VIII, and IX are views of the dial-cam-operating compoundlever, respectively in verticalsection and'inplan, with the parts indifferent positions. Fig. Xis a partial vertical section through thedial-cap hub and a section. A

In the figures, 1 indicates the frame; 2, the bedlate; 3, the topbed-plate; v4:, the cylinder l red thereto; 6, the main gear-ring,fitted to and rotating thereon; 8, the oke-studs thereon, carrying theyoke 10 an the yokering. 11, provided with leveling-screws 13, insertedfrom below, and the peri heral centering-screws 14. Theadju'stingub Ahas the engaged by the cycling-screws and a tubular center 17 fittingloosely within the ring to leave sufficient clearance to center theparts by means of the centering screws. The shaft 18 is fixed in the hubby set-screw 19. Heretofore various means have been proposed forcentering the hub and the shaft, for "such means were slow, diflicult,and uncertain to ope'rate. By my means the hub is up sufiiciently snug.The hub is then leve ed, if necessary, a l fwhich is easy for theordinary mechanic. Finally the clampingscrews 15 are tightened, securingthe hub in position. Evidently holes in flange 16 for to permit aduStment.

21 is a hand-wheel fitted to short thread cate the corresponding partsin all the fig-- first centered, the peripheral screws being setsupporting-flan e 16 resting onthe ring'and said clamping-screws 15 mustbe large enough roo on upper end of shaft 18 to raise the dial andcam-capf The weight of the dial is supported'on the shaft by collar 23,secured .to lower end of shaft, as by set-screw 24.

30 is the cam-ca hub, secured on shaft by set-screw 31 and rovided withannular groove 32 for cam-shi t ring and with double offset 33 toreceive the inner correspondinglyrabbeted edge of the sections 34, therese ,cured, as by bolts 35. Each section carries one. main or projectingcam 38, *preferably provided with plain ends 39 39, which meet when thesections are assembled, forming a continuous hard-steel ring forengagement with the needle-butts, so that the butts shall not come incontact with the cast-iron, which they heretofore tended to cut andwear. In smaller machines these plain ends are shortened or cut 03entirely, the inclines on the cams meeting. These main'cams are providedwith cut-outs 40, in whichare pivoted the tuck-cams 41, adapted toberetracted to permit the needles to run in the tuck position and whenprojected to push the needles into outer or cast off position forplainknitting position. Opposed to said main and pivoted cams are thecast-ofi' or retracting cam 43 and the guard 44, one of each on eachsection, forming a substantially continuous outer steel ring with s aceswhere desired on the periphery to withdraw injured needles and to msertnew needles. ach tuck-cam is provided with a stud 46, extending 131pthrough slot 47 in the section and secure by screw 50 to outer end ofits connecting-strap 51. These straps are adapted to be secured at theirinner ends by screws 52 to cam-shift ring. 53. The straps are alsoprovided with section-screws 54, so that screws 52 ma be removed and thestrapand tuckcam 0 am ed in fixed position out of operation. Evidently acertain number otthese tuck-cams must be operated in out or castoffposition, and the construction here shown has been designed to permitthe knitter to adjustthe cams as desired to produte various combinationsof tuck and lain knitting. As here shown the cams or an eightfeedmachine are adjusted alternately to tuck and to cast ofi.

The shiftcam ring 53 is connected by a connecting-rod 57 to the shortend or extension of the primary lever 59, such connection being slightlyadjustable by means of the bolt 60 in slot 61. This primary lever is oneelement of a unitary compound lever of which all the parts are carriedon a sleeve 63, adated to be secured on one of the yokestu s, wherebythe lever is solidly supported and not necessarily removed to repair orreadjust the other parts. On the sleeve is fixed intermediately the arm.65, carrying the fulcrum 66 of a link 67, connected at its snares outerend by a hole 68 and a stud 69 to the primary lever 59, swinging on thesleeve, and at its inner end by a hole or notch 71 and a stud 72,playing in a slot 73 in said arm, to the secondary lever 74, alsoswinging on the sleeve. Both the holes in the ends of link 67 areelongated longitudinally to permit play. In the under 1 surface of saidarm 65, are spots 76 or small sockets, with which engage a plu ball 77,held up in a hole in the secondary ever by the flat spring 79, forming aspring-lock to hold said levers in position so as not to be thrown outby jar and vibration. The collar 80 is a spacer between the parts.Evidently the two levers, holes, studs, osition of link,.&c. could bereversed. These evers are operated to throw the tuckcams in andout bymeans of a pattern-disk 82 ,carried on a stem 83, supported in bearing84 and elevated by a chainlever 85, operated by the usual pattern-chain86, having me- :dium links for tuck and hi h links for plain knitting. Asingle high 1i is shown in Fig. IV. As here shown the pivoted cams arethrown into tuck position by engagement of the secondar lever with thedisk 82 and are restored to p ain-knitting position by engagement of theprimary lever directly with said disk. The chain is operated by anyusual chain movement. Y

The machine is driven in the usual way from a pulley 88 by a pinion 89-engaging with the rack on the main gear-ring.

B is the usual take-upmechanism, driven by a belt 90 on ulleys 91 92.

Having thus escribed my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, isg 1 In a knitting-machine, the combinationwith the yoke and yoke-ring suitably supported, of a shaft, the dial andcam cap .su ported on the shaft, a hub sup orted on th ring, means tosecure the shat to the hub, peripheral screws in the ring to engage withthe sides of the hub, and leveling-screws in the ring to engage with theunder surface of the hub.

2. In a knitting-machine, the combination with the yoke, and yoke-ringand means to support said arts, of a flan ed adjustinghub supported onthe ring, a s aft securedin the hub, the dial and dial-cam ca supportedon the shaft; and two series 0 adjustingscrews in the ring, one seriesadapted to .engage with the sides ofthe hub, the other series to engagewith the lower surface of the hub.- flan e.

3 In a knittin -machine, the combination with the to be -plate, the mainear-ring supported t iereon, yoke-studs on t e main gear-ring, a yoke onthe studs, a yoke-ring on the yoke centrally arranged on the yoke andhaving a central opening and a flat upper ,jsurface, an adjusting-hubhaving a flange resting on the yoke-ring surface and a tubusu ace of theflange a series of centeringscrews arranged around the periphery of thering'and' adapted to engage with the tubular center, ;a series of claming-screws in the flange to -enga c with t e ring, a verticalshaftarranged 111 the hub, a set-screw in, the

' and cam-cap supported on the lower end of the shaft.

4. In a knitting-machine, having the usual yoke and yoke-ring, means forad usting the into tuck position, the a dial and the cam-cap, consistingof a hub supported on the ring, and leveling-screws in the ring toengage with the under surface of the hub, to level the hub and the partsconnected thereto.

5. In a knittin -machine provided with the usual yoke an yoke-ring,means for adjusting the dial and the cam-cap, having in combination ahub supported on the ring, leveling-screws in the ring to engage withthe under surface of the hub, and means to adjust the hub laterally.

6. In a knitting-machine, the combination with the yoke and yoke-ringsuitably supported, of a shaft, the dial and the cam-cap supported onthe shaft, a hub supported on the ring, means tosecure the shaft to thehub, centering-sprews in the ring to en age with the periphery of thehub, and leve in screws in the ring to level the hub said leveing-screws being arranged and operating substantially at right angles tothe vcenteringscrews. I

7. In a circular-knitting machine, the combination with the verticalshaft and asuitable support therefor of a cam-cap hub secured I on theshaft and ormed with a rabbeted margin and an inner annular groove, acam-shift rin fitted to the groove, cam-sections fitted to t e marginand secured on the :hub, a steel:

projecting cam on each section, a steel tuckcam pivotally supported in acut-out in each projecting-cam, a stub on each tuck-cam extending upthrou h a slot in the section, a connecting-strap etween each stud andthe shift-ring, la st'eel retracting-cam and a steel guard-set oppositethe projecting -'cam on each section to form a continuous camway,

andamean's to shift the shift-rin at'predetermined times to shift thetuc -cams alternately out into cast-ofi dposition and backprojecting-cams being-substantially in contact and the retracting-camsand guards formin substantially a continuous'outer ring wit spaces forthe withdrawal of needles.

acent ends of the- 8. In a compound lever for shifting the I cams inaknitting-machine, the combination with a primary lever, and a secondlever, said levers being journaled so as to be swung alternately toshift the cams, of a fixed arm and a link Ipivotally fulcrumed on saidarm and pivota ly connected to both levers, and an element adapted tocome into engagement with one or the other of said arms at predeterminedtimes, to swing the primary lever p knitting machine, the mam gear-ringand yoke-studs thereon, and

9.; In a circulara compound cam-shifting lever arranged on one of theyoke-studs and having in conibina-v tion a primary lever j ournaled 1nthe stud, a

'and shift th cam alternately into, and out of, I operative position.-hub to engagewith the shaft, and the dial I secondarylever journaled onthe stud, an

arm fixed on the stud between the levers, a link pivotally supportednear its center on the arm and havin a pivotal connection at its endsrespective y. with the primary'and the secondarylevers, aseries ofpivoted cams, connections between the primary lever and said cams, andmeans to engage alternately with the primary and secondary levers atpredetermined intervals to swing the primary lever and shift the camsalternately in and out.

10. In a circular-knitting machine, the

main gear-ring and yoke-studs thereon, and a compound cam-shifting leverarranged on one of the yoke-studs and having in combination asupporting-sleeve, a" primary lever journaled on the sleeve; a secondarylever journaled on the sleeve, an arm fixed on the sleeve betweern thelevers, a link pivotally sup orted at its center on the arm andhaving apivotal connection at its ends respectively with theprimar and thesecondary levers, a series ofpivote cams, connections between theprimary lever andsaid' cams, and means to engage alternately with theprimary and secondary levers at predetermined intervals toswing theprimary lever'and shift the cams alternately in and out.

-11. 'In a circular;- knitting machine, the main gear-ring andyoke,studs thereon, and a compound cam-shiftin' lever arranged'on one ofthe yoke-studs an having in combination a supporting-sleeve, a rimarylever journaled on the sleeve, said. ever having a on the opposite sideof the sleeve, a secondary lever j ournaled' on thesleeve below thepr1-, mary lever, an arm fixed on the sleeve between the levers, a linkpivotally supported at its center on the arm and having a pivotalconnection at its ends respectively with the primar and the secondarylevers, a'plug-hall m a ho e in the secondary lever, a spring to holdsaid ball in engagement with sockets in the arm, a series of pivotedearns, a cam-shift I I 5 longermain end and an extens on extending minedintervals to swing the primary lever and shift the cams alternately inand out.

12. In a compound lever for shifting the cams in a circular-knittingmachine, the combination with a supporting-sleeve, of a prim. mary leverand a secondary lever journaled on the sleeve, and connections betweensaid levers, whereby the primar lever is swung by theengagement ofsuitable means with the secondary lever.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature 15 in presence of twoWitnesses.

HARRY I. THRALL. Witnesses:

'E. S. VAN VALKENBURG, HARVEY PETER SHARP.

